New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-01
CONGRESS. TIE D7STURBER.

As usual. the close approach of the session of
Congress causes depression in markets. When
men arc asked why railroad stocks seem in
less demand. they naturally answer, whether
Republicans or Democrats Because nobody
can tell what Congress is going to do Nobody
pretcnds to dispute the fact that the disposition
Of the majority in the House, if not held IN
check. may result in such legislation a. TO
affect manufactures. industry and the values
OF many properties unfavOrably. There Is "a
strong and probably well grounded hope that
Congress will take it out in talking, and do
next to nothing. as usual. But investors are
not all of one mind about it. SO when men
ask about wool or iron, steel rails or lumber
nobody prctcndS that the legislation threatened
by the large majority of the Democrats IN the
House may not affect prices unlavOrably, nor
does any business man pretend that the demand
can be expected to continue active and con
fdcnt as if Congress were not to assemble,
with It's schemes Of sweeping tariff reduction
While no general decline in prices appears
there is for the present Il manifest disposition
on the part of many who might otherwise buy
to wait and "scc what Congress is going TO
do" That means slaCkcning OF trade IN many
branches. upon which employment and the
wages of many thousand working mon and
women depend.
The fear of tariff oycrhaulng by Congress
has been aSsiduolsly stimulated by Democratic
leaders and journals. at about this time every
year since that party had majority III tho
House. 1t has come to be thing generally
understood. that a Democratic House means u
winter Of tariff agitation; a winter OF raids on
American industry under Drctcnce Of anxious
desire to benefit consumers. 1t does no good
to demonstrate for these blinded worshippcrs
of dead theory, that goods of all kinds arc
actually cheaper to-day because Of the tariff
than they ever were before it developed Amer
lean industry and cheaper not only here but
all over the world. because Of the enormous
stimulus thus given to the producing power Of
this great Nation. 1t is a waste Of time to show
these Bourbons that Great Britain is supporting
by Door rates abic-bOdicd workers in iron and
steel while sending right past them. to be
laid on ENGLISH railroads or in English bridges,
rails and bars from Belgium, because pur-
chascrs can save possibly a tenth of the cost Of
keeping in dlcncss these English wOrkingmcn.
There is one way, and but one discOvcrablc
by human searching. to save the country from
this annual turmoil and disturbance. That is
to elect Il House not Democratic, with Prcsi-
dent whose veto will surely be intcIpOScd when
ever the industries Of the country and the
prosperity of its workingmcn are asSaiIcd. But
TO that end it is especially necessary that the
voters should watch the proceedings in Con
grcss this winter, and see what it is that Dem
ocratic leaders propose. and what proportion
of the Democratic members support the worst
devices. The watchfu eyes Of millions Of
workers will have a wholesome restraining III
fucncc just at this time And the millions Of
orkcrs, if they would pay little attention to
tho matter, would learn enough not to help a
frcc-trado party next year.